Blinking hard, she whispers, “But… why?”
“I think of you as family, and family is off limits.”
“Maybe you should start thinking of me as forbidden fruit.” She comes towards me again.
Eww. Forbidden fruit. Never say that again.“I’m sorry but no. My heart belongs to someone else.”
Anger flashes across her face. “Who?”
“Does it matter?” I ask gently.
“Of course it does. I have to make sure she’s good enough for you.”
“Believe me, the question should be if I’m good enough for her.” I glance at her robe again. “Why don’t you get dressed while I get rid of this towel?”
I turn, but her voice stops me.
“It’s that little event planner, isn’t it?”
I freeze, then turn around, hoping the smile in my heart isn’t showing on my face. “Yes.”
Scoffing, she says, “You aren’t sure if you’re good enough forher? What a joke! She’s so far below you.” She shakes her head, then finally bends down to pick up her robe.
I take the opportunity to hurry to the bathroom and drop the towel in the tub. When I come back, Carolina is finally a lot less nude but is also wearing an ugly expression. “What did she do? Seduce you when you were out on that island?”
“Nothing happened. In fact, she doesn’t even know how I feel. I haven’t found a way to tell her.”
“You’re serious about this? You’re not just saying this so I won’t feel hurt that you’re rejecting me?”
“I’m serious about it. About her.”
“But you don’t even know her! I’ve known you your entire life. I know everything about you, and I love you all the more for it.” Tears spring into her eyes.
“I don’t know what to say, other than my wish is for you to find someone who feels about you the way I do about Nora.”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “No. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. Not after everything I had to do to get you here.”
My head snaps back. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Scowling, she says, “Did you really think Jacardi would pull out after how much money they made last year?”
I stare at her, stunned. “Did you break your contract with them?”
She nods. “As soon as you agreed to come on board. They’re threatening to sue the network. My father is furious with me.”
“Jesus, Carolina, how could you do something like that? You put your family’s company at risk, not to mention screwing over Jacardi like that.”
“I did it for you, Theo. Because I love you so much. I always have, and I thought if I could get you out here, and we spent some time together, you’d realize we’re meant to be.”
Wow, this is some stalker-level stuff. I feel like I don’t even know who Carolina is, but I do know she’s not someone I want to associate myself with any longer. “I think you should leave.”
“No, Theo,” she says.
“Go, Carolina. I don’t want to be around you right now.” I walk past her to the balcony and slide the door behind me.
I cross to the railing and rest my hands on it, trying to process what just happened. After a moment I hear the muffled sound of the door to the hallway closing. First thing in the morning, I’m going to call the head of our legal team to make sure we’re not somehow culpable for what Carolina did to Jacardi. One thing’s sure: the friendship between our two families is about to crumble to dust at a time when I need all the allies I can get.
25
